The Detective Up Late is the 7th Sean Duffy procedural mystery by Adrian McKinty. Released 8th Aug 2023 by Blackstone, it's 317 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out in May 2024 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.

This is a consistently top notch procedural series from a perceptive and immensely talented author. From the beginning, it's been nuanced, perceptive, and tension filled. The characters, especially the titular series character Sean Duffy, have evolved over the course of the books and are fully three dimensional with believable (sometimes regrettable) moral senses and internal motivations. It's set in the 1980s-90s and the author manages to really capture the time period and culture.

This is an engaging book from the start. Sean's got a lot more to live for than when he started as an RC constable in the mostly Protestant RUC during "the troubles". Trouble soon finds him however, when he starts to look into the disappearance of a 15 year old traveller girl and he winds up neck deep in it, trying to solve her disappearance and bring evildoers to justice, without getting himself, his colleagues, or his family killed in the process.

As with all the books in the series, it's very well told, and the author has a masterful style of storytelling, well engineered, precise, and tension filled. The denouement and resolution are (as always) satisfying. The subject matter is often gritty, and there are descriptions of violence, racism, xenophobia, etc which might be distressing for some readers (and should be). In point of fact, it's an ongoing linchpin of the entire series set up, since Duffy's a Roman Catholic often derided by his mostly Protestant colleagues, living in Northern Ireland in the 80s.

Five stars. VERY well written. Highly recommended for public library acquisition, home reading, and for book club discussion. The series would be a good candidate for a long binge / buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

I love this police procedural series set in Belfast. This entry is Duffy’s last case with the RUC before moving onto Scotland. A 15 year old Tinker girl is missing. While solving the case, he exposes a traitor and an undercover agent with a murky past.

The Detective Up Late takes place in gritty Belfast at the beginning of the 1990s. Following a dark and violent decade, Sean Duffy has hope that the next will bring more peace and solitude. However, his flame of hope is quickly extinguished when a teenager goes missing from a shady mobile home park.

I hadn’t read the first six books and didn’t realize this was a late book in a series until later but still really enjoyed the book. I loved the impact that the author had when describing the grizzly nature of the setting and time period and felt it added a haunting dread that satisfies thriller and crime readers. The dark humor of McKinty’s writing adds just enough relief and relatability to the story and likability to the characters. Reading this inspired me to go back to beginning and start the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC copy of this one!

I really enjoyed the writing style of this one. I loved the sarcastic humor throughout this one and how descriptive everything was. It made it feel like I was right there in the book! I think the ending was wrapped up wonderfully as well. Great detective read!

A pulse-pounding, action-packed thriller with solid characterization and a plot that kept me rapt. The Sean Duffy series gets better and better. Lots of dark humor, and a smart lead character who is fun to read. I really enjoyed reading this book. My thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the advanced copy. Highly recommended.

What a joy to see the return of Sean Duffy (and to see the wonderful backlist back in print). This latest won't disappoint McKinty fans with its wit and clever dialogue. What was dismissed as "just a missing tinker girl" turns out to be much more as Duffy pushes his team to follow leads to their shocking conclusions. Duffy's irreverent style hasn't changed as he heads into the nineties.The earlier books were firmly tied to the political and historical events of Ireland's troubled past often featuring actual people and events whereas this one has Duffy facing the start of a new decade with an optimism we all know won't last. Despite this being labeled "Duffy's last case" it feels likely that McKinty has more in store for him in his semi-retirement. Something to look forward to.
  My thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“The Detective Up Late” is the seventh in the Sean Duffy series. However, it’s easy to read even if you haven’t read any of the earlier books in the series. The plot is self contained and the characters strong enough to engage any reader.

It’s 1990 and Sean Duffy is leaving the Irish Police Force. He’s taking his wife and baby and moving to Scotland to escape the unceasing violence of the Troubles. He’ll still be working seven days a month as a reservist, in order to get his full pension in a few years, but for all intents and purposes – he’s on his way out.

But on what should be his last day, Duffy sees a report of a missing Tinker girl. It’s reported as a missing person, but Duffy and his offsider have a nasty feeling that it might actually be murder. The report has already been dismissed by other police who don’t care about Tinkers, but Duffy is determined to follow up. He’ll finish this one last case.

The setting and time period are deeply evocative. In particular, the novel gives a strong sense of just how overwhelming, constant, and almost random the violence was at that time in Ireland. McKinty doesn’t take a political position, but does highlight how difficult it was for ordinary people. Duffy has seen a lot as a police officer, and feels it’s a real achievement to be leaving the force alive.

I find McKinty’s writing in the Duffy series a little more lyrical than in his stand alone thrillers, although they share the same tendency to compelling plots and strong characters. It’s a writing style that I enjoy. It flows well and is readable, and every so often there’s a particularly lovely piece of descriptive prose.

The novel also provides a strong portrait of the reality of police work – certainly then, and probably now. Rather than amazing forensic breakthroughs, it’s a hard slog of asking questions over and over again and chasing down details. It feels both gritty and realistic.

The plot is credible – it’s an everyday sort of crime, with everyday sorts of complications and challenges for those trying to resolve it. There are surprises, but it’s not going to stretch your belief. The ending is highly satisfying.

This is an excellent crime novel which should appeal both to ongoing readers of the series, and new readers. Strong writing, plotting and characterisation make for a readable and mentally engaging novel.

I like the overall feel of this novel. It is a good set of storytelling and characters. I haven't read any of the Sean Duffy books until now, but it makes me feel like I could go deep into the series if I have the time. McKinty is the real deal when it comes to the storytelling and characters. This is a good book to delve into. I am not sure if one needs to read the previous novels, but I do feel like it could have benefited me if I did.

This story is a bit different from other works I've read by the author. It's a solid mystery/thriller that's evenly paced but has enough action and tension to move the plot. Entertaining and engaging, witty with some dark humor.

This is my second book by this Irish author and he’s becoming a firm favourite. Typical for me, I did not realise this was a series - in fact it’s the 7th in a series. That said, and without reading the earlier books, I felt it could be totally read as a standalone. Full of action, rich characters and atmosphere and peppered with dark humour its a wonderful, literary, police procedural. The audiobook was superbly narrated by Gerard Doyle.
Many thanks to @blackstonepublishing for and ALC 🎧⭐️

I am new to the Sean Duffy series by Adrian McKinty and this is what appears to be the last installment in the series. However, it can be read as a standalone book and I plan to revisit the series from the beginning.

The novel opens in the early 1990's. CID Duffy is Catholic and has suffered through the Irish 'troubles' in Belfast for years. He's experienced all forms of terror- bombings, riots, assassinations, etc. He doesn't get into his vehicle without checking underneath it for bombs or other explosives. He and his partner Beth, along with their daughter Emma, have moved to Scotland to get away from the 'troubles'.

Duffy is working on a case, one he hopes is his last full-time one. A 15. year-old traveller girl names Kat has disappeared and it looks suspiciously like murder. Some of his colleagues are not taking Kat's disappearance too seriously, Travellers are not important to them. Duffy, however, is determined to find Kat. He is hoping this will be his last full-time case so that he can move to part-time for three years and then retire with a pension,

On top of Duffy's looking for Kat, he is managing an informant (double agent) who is very squirrelly. This informant believes that something bad is up and he is in danger. There is a meeting scheduled and he wants Duffy to be there for protection.

One of the things I enjoyed very much in this novel is Duffy's knowledge of philosophy, music, literature, and poetry. He is a well-educated man and this is apparent throughout the book.

The Detective Up Late by Adrian McKinty is the seventh in the Sean Duffy series. McKinty has been busy with some excellent standalones so the last time we met Duffy was in the spectacularly named Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly, released in 2017.

I was thinking there'd be a very long gap between books, but on further investigation (ie. looking at Goodreads) I noticed that this book was in fact originally released in 2018 and I missed it at the time. Unfortunately in my review of book six, I cagily comment on changes being afoot for Duffy though don't offer any spoilers. It meant I started this with absolutely no idea what had happened in the previous outing. I soon discovered however that he's moving to Scotland with his girlfriend and their three year old daughter and transitioning to a part-time role with the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

This book opens just as Duffy's partner Beth and their toddler move to Scotland, where he will join them after working his last case. He's done a deal that means he'll return to Belfast several days each month to work part-time with the RUC and be able to qualify for his police pension. Duffy being Duffy, of course decides to take on a complex case involving a missing 'gypsy' girl... a case of little interest to his colleagues.

The case itself seems fairly straightforward.* Duffy, his long-term partner Crabbie and soon-to-be-replacement Lawson discover the missing girl had been working as an escort and they quickly narrow their focus to several of her clients. I was reminded here of my love of Duffy's humanity, despite his cynical demeanor. He doesn't judge the 15 year old they believe to be dead, but sees the person she was as well as what she was forced to become. 

I love McKinty's writing and I know I comment on it in each book, so won't give examples this time but I love the device he uses to demonstrate time passing... by using phrases. Snappy, direct and moving the plot along seamlessly. I also very much enjoyed Duffy's humour in this outing and tried to remember if he'd been as droll previously, sometimes dipping into second person in his narration. Here there were tones of the wry gumshoes of yesteryear....

'The clock marched its way to 5.00pm, stealing our lives right from under our very noses.'

McKinty manages to place readers back in time - particularly those of us old enough to remember that era anyway. Duffy's love of music and music references are again plentiful and memory-evoking. The cultural reverie is useful I think in dispelling some of the social and political tension of that time in history. It's hard to be possessed by anger, anxiety or injustice when you've got Ebony and Ivory or Sussudio stuck in your head.

There are a few directions McKinty could take this series from here. Duffy will continue part-time work in Ireland, which could remain the focus; but of course there are surely exploits to be had in Scotland. And then there's also the liaison with MI5 he's stuck with thanks to a double agent who refuses to trust anyone else.

* Which of course isn't the case.

THE DETECTIVE UP LATE by Adrian McGinty
Narrated by Gerard Doyle
Blackstone Publishing - Audiobook … 9 hours, 16 min
Publication: August 2023




There is no better way to jump on the Sean Duffy Train than immerse yourself in the audio version narrated by the magnificent Gerald Doyle. His ability to supply various Scottish and Irish accents and nuances for the multiple characters bring this historical noir to a gritty and dark life in the theater of your mind. Even if you’ve missed the first six installments in this highly acclaimed and award winning series this will allow you to immediately become enamored with the unique, grumpy, sarcastic and highly principled, Detective Inspector Sean Duffy. This is billed as “his last case” ….Bollocks!!! …don’t believe it! Some say he’s nothing special as a detective … no Sherlock Holmes … but what he is… is persistent in an OCD fashion. Like the proverbial dog with a bone. The scene opens on New Year’s Eve … celebrating the end of the 80s with his partner, Beth … hoping that the New Year and start of the 90’s will bring an end to the hostilities in Northern Ireland. Beth has convinced Sean for the sake of security and safety for them and their 3 year-old daughter Emma, they should move from Northern Ireland to her home in the southern part of Scotland … home of retirees and some call, “one of God’s Waiting Rooms.’
Sean Duffy is the ultimate outsider… being a Catholic cop, surrounded by the mostly Protestant members of the Carrickfergus RUC ( Royal Ulster Constabulary) and its constituents. He has survived the 80’s with its turmoil of riots, bombings and assassination attempts led by either the IRA or its brethren paramilitary groups. He can qualify for his pension if he works part time, such as 7 to 8 days a month for the next three years, and turn over his leadership of the detectives at RUC. As he’s about to relinquish his position, when a MPC (Missing Person Case) comes across his desk. A fifteen year-old traveller girl (a “tinker”), named Kat McAtamney went missing. The chief inspector says its a waste of police time and to file the necessary paperwork and forget about it. “Tinker girls go missing all the time.” Naturally Duffy digs right in and steps on a multitude of toes as he doggedly precedes with his investigation. His crew is composed of DI McCrabban, and his soon to be replacement, DI Lawson. Sean is disgusted how little his other colleagues care if this case is worked… the local press finds the case un newsworthy. He turns up a cast of dodgy blokes who may have been involved with her disappearance or murder. His investigation inevitably comes up against sinister and powerful forces wanting to shut it down. It should be noted that every time he approaches his Beemer, he inspects the undercarriage looking for a tilt bomb.
McGinty is a marvelous storyteller and weaves together a complex narrative with multiple unexpected twists and turn and escalating suspense. He effortlessly injects a heavy dose of dark humor, filled with wit and pitch perfect sarcasm, that envelops the incomparable and unforgettable Detective Inspector Sean Duffy. Hopefully, this “last case” will be reminiscent of Frank Sinatra’s “Farewell Tour” … in which he announced his retirement in 1971, only to be followed by another thousand concerts.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing an advanced version Audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Excuse me .. while I go download the first six novels of this marvelous series.

I think if you read the others in the series you would enjoy this. I did not, and it made it tougher to follow along and I didn't connect with it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and the author for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

@adrianmckintyauthor
@blackstonepublishing
@netgalley

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary:

Detective Sean Duffy Book #7

I really enjoyed this book, some parts were confusing since I didn’t realize this is a series. I do want to go back and read the other books in the Duffy series to have a better understanding of the story. I have read other books by Adrian Mckinty and they have all been great. I really liked Detective Sean Duffy’s character and the writing was excellent! I recommend to those looking for series, lovers of mysteries, crime fiction, and thrillers.

#netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #read #readmore #bookworms #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #mystery #thriller #readersofinstagram #bookaddicts #tbr #adrianmckinty #blackstonepublishing #avid reader #fiction #thedetectiveuplate #seanduffyseries #booknerds

The Chain by Adrian McKinty was one of my favorite books but this one just wasn't for me. It didn't fall under what I enjoy reading. So I am not leaving a bad review at all just that it wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I highly recommend reading The Chain if you haven't.

I absolutely love McKintys writing style and have yet to find a thriller by him that doesn't immediately grab my attention. While I am someone who definitely leans away from the more detective/police based procedurals, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in this series.

The Detective Up Late by Adrian McKinty

This crime thriller is #7 in a series, but could still be read as a stand alone. There were some references to past events but I didn’t feel lost in the story at any time.

First, the good: I loved the setting, Northern Ireland as the 1980’s turned over into the 1990’s. The writing was atmospheric and really sold the dreary cold beauty of the country as well as the dangerous undertones of ‘The Troubles’ and IRA. Our main character, Detective Inspector Sean Duffy has a sharp wit that had me laughing several times throughout the book.

Now, the less good: Overall the writing style felt like a rough first draft. It was filled with incomplete sentences and stream of consciousness type writing which felt choppy and disjointed. It also fell into long, American Psycho-esque monologues about different musicians, which felt like unnecessary navel gazing.

With some more editing and a little polish, I feel like this cold have been a solid 4 star police procedural thriller. I still have The Chain on my TBR and I’m looking forward to giving this author another try.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this free copy in exchange for my honest review

The Detective Up Late

By: Adrian McKinty

Publish Date: 8 August 2023

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

General Fiction (Adult)/ Mystery and Thrillers

#TheDetectiveUpLate#NetGalley

100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

Book Review:

This is not going to be a normal review. I need to pay closer attention to what I request because I didn’t fully read the description and just requested the book because of the author. This is the seventh book in the series that I have never read before and don’t intend to read. I did give it a chance, but I was so lost that I decided to stop reading it.

This has nothing to do with the story line or the writing. In this series you really need to read it from the beginning and not get the last book and start reading.

I was so excited to see that he had another book out and I requested it thinking it was one of his stands alone like The Chain and The Island. I will gladly read and review one of those.

Please give this author a try and if you are interested in this book,

please start with book one so you are not completely lost like I was.

Finally, Adrian McKinty’s seventh Sean Duffy novel, The Detective Up Late, has been published, and with it, he continues offering up interesting tales involving his sarcastically witty, though increasingly wizened detective.

As the 1980s tumble into the 1990s, It is a new decade, and with this change, Duffy is hoping for a calmer future, especially while facing changes of his own as he tries to solve the case of a missing and presumed dead young woman who many seem not to care whether it is solved or not.

With the onset of the new decade, McKinty brings along Duffy’s usual co-stars, especially his loyal number two ‘Crabbie’, and weaves a story where Duffy is still cautious when it comes to bombs beneath his vehicle and the possibility of the eruption of new violence.

Not much else needs to be revealed about The Detective Up Late for mainly two reasons. For one, the potential for spoilers is too easy (I won’t even reveal what my first impression was upon reading the first few pages, because that in and of itself would require a spoiler), and secondly, I don’t think Adrian McKinty can publish a novel that is not well done.

The Detective Up Late continues McKinty’s streak of enjoyable storytelling while easily maintaining interest in the Duffy character.

On a related note, fans of the Duffy series are also encouraged to not only read his other non-Duffy novels, but also, familiarize themselves with the compelling writing history of McKinty and how a blurb for his novel The Chain by fellow writer Don Winslow lead to a larger interest, and most likely rescued McKinty from the need to continue driving an Uber.

The Detective Up Light is highly recommended to all fans of gritty tales and smart mouthed detectives, especially those based within Ireland and Europe.

An ARC of The Detective Up Late was provided by Netgalley upon the promise of a fair review and is available for purchase.